Decorative finishes & house painting · Denver & Littleton
Walls with depth, finished by hand.
Venetian plaster, glazes, marbling and metallics — alongside careful interior and exterior painting — from a Denver studio that has spent more than twenty years refining the craft.
or call Dave at 303-552-7785
- 20+ yearsof house painting and faux finishing
- 5-yearquality workmanship guarantee
- Freein-home estimates & color consultations
- BBBAccredited Business, Lakewood
The craft
Faux — from the French for make believe.
Faux finishing is the creation of elegant, hand-crafted translucent finishes: plaster that reads as old stone, columns that pass for marble, concrete that looks like weathered plank.
It brings a warmth, depth and movement that flat paint and wallpaper can't. Because a faux finish has no seams, it won't peel in Colorado's dry, swinging climate — and it grows more beautiful with age. Touch-ups are simple, and it can be top-coated in matte, satin or semi-gloss polyurethane.
Used well, it changes how a room feels: lighter colors and soft techniques open a small space; darker tones and dramatic techniques bring a large one in close.
GlazingColor washingMarblingRaggingSpongingAntiquingCrackleMetallicsVenetian plaster
The sample book
Twelve finishes, photographed on our own work.
Nothing goes on your wall until you've approved a sample board made in your colors. Choose a finish to see it up close.
Venetian plaster
Lime-based plaster troweled on in thin, translucent layers, then burnished. Layered for depth, yet smooth as glass to the touch.
- Character
- Cool slate, burnished sheen
- Where it shines
- Entries, powder rooms, fireplace surrounds
Metallic plaster
Ivy, silver and gold worked into the plaster in layers, so the wall shifts as daylight moves across it.
- Character
- Layered metallics
- Where it shines
- Feature walls, dining rooms, niches
Soft French patina
A sun-faded patina laid over a skip-trowel texture — warm and lived-in without feeling heavy.
- Character
- Warm sand stone
- Where it shines
- Living rooms, stairwells, open plans
Aged cracked plaster
The look of centuries-old plaster, fine cracks and all, built over a custom skip-trowel base.
- Character
- Cream with umber veins
- Where it shines
- Columns, kitchens, wine rooms
Burlap aged plaster
Plaster aged and degraded over burlap, so a woven texture shows through the color.
- Character
- Rustic, tactile
- Where it shines
- Dens, mountain homes, tasting rooms
Faux marble
Marble painted stroke by stroke. Columns, mantels and medallions that pass for quarried stone.
- Character
- Deep verde, crisp veining
- Where it shines
- Columns, mantels, medallions
Aged copper
Rust, bronze and a trace of verdigris — the patina of weathered copper, without the weight of metal.
- Character
- Rich, oxidized
- Where it shines
- Dome ceilings, niches, range hoods
Tuscan glaze
Ochres and siennas sponged, layered and softened into the warm wash of an Italian villa.
- Character
- Golden, mottled
- Where it shines
- Kitchens, dining rooms, great rooms
Strié
A glaze dragged in fine vertical lines, like raw silk or linen. Quietly tailored.
- Character
- Linear, understated
- Where it shines
- Studies, bedrooms, formal rooms
Brushed silver
A brushed metallic with a soft sheen that catches light the way pewter does.
- Character
- Cool, reflective
- Where it shines
- Beadboard, offices, contemporary rooms
Old World
Parchment, ochre and umber, layered and antiqued until the wall feels found rather than made.
- Character
- Aged parchment
- Where it shines
- Entries, libraries, wine cellars
Pewter skip trowel
A cool pewter glaze over a skip-trowel texture — the texture reads first, the color second.
- Character
- Grey, sculptural
- Where it shines
- Fireplace walls, modern interiors
What we do
One studio for the decorative and the everyday.
The same people who glaze a dome ceiling will caulk your baseboards. That's why the solid-color work is as clean as the specialty work.
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Faux finishes & plaster
Venetian plaster, glazes, marbling, metallics, crackle and aged plaster, columns, ceilings and murals.
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Interior painting
Walls, ceilings and trim with full prep, a vapor barrier around every work zone, and low-VOC paint by default.
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Exterior painting
Pressure washing, scraping, caulking and priming that weatherizes the house before two full coats go on.
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Cabinets & woodwork
Gel-stain conversions, refinished kitchens, ebonized doors, arches and paneling.
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Commercial finishes
Offices, storefronts and hospitality spaces, scheduled around your hours so business carries on.
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Color consultation
Color theory training and years of experience, applied to your light, your furnishings and your HOA.
Selected work
Rooms around Denver, finished in place.
Before & after
Drag to see the difference.
A builder-white wall becomes a layered, stone-like finish. A weathered bi-level gets full prep and a crisp two-tone exterior.
How a project runs
From first walk-through to five-year guarantee.
Your home stays livable throughout. We keep work zones clean, organized and sealed off behind a vapor barrier.
Consultation
A free visit to walk the space, talk color and finish, and give you a written estimate.
Sample boards
Custom boards in your colors and chosen technique, so you approve the exact look in your own light.
Preparation
Repairs matched to existing texture, long-life caulk at every joint, razor-straight masking.
Finishing
Paint and decorative layers applied by hand by experienced artists — not rotating crews.
Guaranteed
Every project is backed by our 5-year quality workmanship guarantee.
The studio
“We'll paint the inside of your house as if it were our own.”
Owner and artist David Gehrke has studied fine art throughout his career, and that training drove a house painting company past simple painting into decorative finishing. Our artists are trained in everything from fundamental glazes to complex Venetian plaster — and they work on your timetable.
Questions
Good to know.
What does painting a house cost?
As a ballpark, house painting typically runs 1% to 6% of a home's value, depending on scope. A full exterior with extensive prep or wood windows lands near 3%; vinyl or metal windows with minimal prep, closer to 1%. Full interior — walls, ceilings and trim — is again near 3%, walls only near 1%. For a detailed quote, call and we'll find an appointment window that works for you.
Can you match a finish I saw in a magazine?
Yes. We can duplicate nearly any faux technique — something on this site, something from a magazine, or something completely original — and we'll prove it on a sample board before we start.
How does a faux finish hold up compared to wallpaper?
Better, and for longer. With no seams there's nothing to peel in Colorado's climate, repairs blend easily, and the finish can be top-coated with polyurethane in matte, satin or semi-gloss for high-traffic areas.
What surfaces can be faux finished?
Almost any: drywall, plaster, wood, metal, fabric, glass and ceramic — and outdoors, concrete and masonry. Preparation and priming vary by material, and we handle that as part of the job.
Which areas do you serve?
Denver and the surrounding southwest metro — Littleton, Lakewood, Englewood, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Cherry Hills, Cherry Creek, DTC, Ken Caryl, Golden, Evergreen, Morrison and Wheat Ridge — plus Castle Rock, Parker, Aurora and Thornton. See the full list.
Free in-home consultation
See your finish before it's on the wall.
Dave will walk the space with you, talk through color and sheen, and build custom sample boards so you know exactly how the finished room will look.